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Weekly report on human rights violations

Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces included willful and extra-judicial executions, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and house demolitions. Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank and have continued to impose a tight siege on the OPTs. This week, 4 Palestinian civilians were killed and at least 20 others, including a number of children, were injured by Israeli troops.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 10 military incursions into Palestinian areas, the widest of which was against the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on 22 June 2004, during which they killed 3 Palestinian civilians and razed at least 300 donums of Palestinian agricultural land. Israeli troops razed 77 donums of agricultural land in the town during another incursion on 18 June 2004. They also razed 43 donums of agricultural land in Khan Yunis, destroyed 3 houses in Rafah and arrested 12 Palestinian civilians in Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah. On 18 June 2004, Israeli troops destroyed 2 Palestinian houses in al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis in the context of retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists. On 18 and 19 June 2004, Israeli helicopter gunships destroyed 3 workshops in the Gaza Strip. This week, Israeli troops used a Palestinian child as a human shield during a military operation in Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians. A Palestinian was extra-judicially executed by Israeli troops in Nablus on 23 June 2004. Israeli troops also arrested dozens of Palestinians throughout the West Bank. In addition, 13 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded by the Israeli gunfire.

Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank. They razed more areas of Palestinian land and started to construct some sections of the wall around Jerusalem, in a strategic attempt to redefine the borders of the town, by annexing more of its land and forcing Palestinians to leave it. They also razed more areas of Palestinian land near Salfit for the purpose of the construction of the wall in the area.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have continued to close most border crossings. A number of these crossing were partially reopened, but under severe restrictions. They imposed severe restrictions on traveling through Rafah Terminal. In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.